R: The timing - closing right before Christmas - was it an issue? Did you think about that?
JH: Yes, we did think about that. But we also could not allow employees who admittedly were having these parties and taking liquor from us to work here any more. Liquor costs were skyrocketing, along with food and labor costs. Gross mismanagement was a major factor in the closing of the restaurant and bar, which not only included employee theft and illegal activities, but also included inferior service, substandard cleanliness and general incompetence.

R: Were all of the employees of Harvey's terminated?
JH: Yes.

R: So, when it reopens you'll have a new staff?
JH: We will have a new staff, new management, and all old employees are welcome to reapply.

R: Have you had any feedback from people who were disappointed with the closing?
JH: I, personally, have had nothing but positive feedback, and it has been from small business owners in the area. I have had other feedback from people who were aware of what was going on and never said anything. One person said, 'It's about time...' The employees didn't care, [Harvey's] became their playground, their personal drinking establishment. We had a meeting before they were terminated, on Dec. 5, where they admitted to these parties and to non-payment for their liquor, and they didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with it, because everyone seemed to know about it. There was total apathy on their part.

R: What about disappointment about the canceled music shows?
JH: I have not heard anything.
Jim McNamara: No, we didn't hear anything. We were told by [one of the managers] that the shows would all be rescheduled at a different venue, and I just figured that was what happened. Haven't heard a thing.

R: When the place reopens is it going to be a live music venue still?
JMN: Oh, yeah. We are going to have live music upstairs and downstairs, as a matter of fact. It'll probably be one or two musicians downstairs and full bands upstairs.

R: So, it'll be the same sort of music or a different kind?
JH: I would definitely say a different kind. How you would categorize it I'm not really sure: jazz, blues - something like that. We'll get cover bands and things like that in here, too, but the music is going to change, that's for sure. We're also going to remodel the place extensively.

R: When you remodel, what will you be looking for; will it be completely different?
JMN: Well it won't be completely different... it's an older building and we can't change a whole lot because of the structure, but we're going to move a few things around, and upgrade everything. We're going to build two new bars, the furniture will be replaced. The deck will be cleaned up and have new furniture. The kitchen will change dramatically; we're going to upgrade the food a lot.

R: Are you concerned at all that you will alienate the former clients of Harvey's?
JMN: I don't think we'll alienate the old clients. It's a neighborhood kind of place, and I think it will stay that way. I think that there are some clients that I personally know that used to come here three or four years ago that don't come here anymore at all and I would like to get them to come back.

R: Is it going to be called Harvey's when it reopens?
JMN: No, and we're not sure of the name yet, that's still under consideration.

R: Do you have an estimated date for reopening?
JMN: We're looking at the drawings right now, and filing for permits. So depending on how long all of that takes… I would say in February for sure.

R: Do you feel you'll be contributing to the local music scene by hosting the bands that you will have?
JMN: Absolutely. We've got bands that are down at Bourbon Street that are pretty much local, from the college, and we're definitely going to pull from that as well.

R: : Is there any concern that employee theft might be an issue in the future?
JMN: That won't be an issue.

R: Do you have policies in place to keep it from happening?
JMN: Absolutely. We will definitely have total control over it when [the business] reopens, so that won't happen again.